My Top Ten New Mommy Moments

Welcome to the March Carnival of Natural Parenting: Natural Parenting Top 10 ListsThis post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our participants have shared Top 10 lists on a wide variety of aspects of attachment parenting and natural living. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

As my first year of motherhood, and the first year of Annabelle’s life is coming to a close, I thought I’d put together a list of my top ten new mommy moments. Some are chosen more because they were hilarious and therefore memorable, while others are chosen for their ability to make me all melty. The order is disputable, but without further ado:

My Top Ten New Mommy Moments: Reflecting on the First Year

10. The moment when I found myself dripping wet in a tiny shower in a tiny bathroom with my perfect, as yet untouched by all things gross and creepy, newborn daughter sleeping in her bouncer on the only bit of open floor, face-to-face with one of the largest cockroaches I have ever laid eyes on. This can also be remembered as the moment when all my concerns about the many horrifying chemicals in household products went out the window and I ran, naked, to grab a giant can of Raid. Not my brightest moment, but one I shall never forget.

9. The moment when I noticed a rash in the underarm of my perfect, tiny daughter, and, with a heart beating wildly and tears welling up in my eyes, began mentally preparing for a rush to the emergency room where I would surely find out that she had lymphoma (she doesn’t), and the moment shortly thereafter when I realized that I was overreacting and she was probably going to be just fine.

8. The moment when something was wrong with my new daughter, and instead of spinning myself up into a flurry of fear and worry, I managed to keep a level head, and tell myself that I would keep an eye on it, but she was likely going to be just fine. This was also the moment when I realized that a lack of worry did not make me a bad mother, and I also began to learn that breast milk is the cure for nearly everything.

7. The moment when I realized that I could, in fact, nurse while lying in bed. This was also the moment when my new mom exhaustion levels took a turn for the best.

6. The moment when I heard my new crawler wake from a nap and walked into her room to find her, not waiting motionless on her bed, but rather crawling toward the door, and grinning, like a conqueror of her own world.

5. The moment when my husband had returned from eight months away and, having gone to sleep all together, we woke up the next morning and the reality of our tiny family swept over me. This was our life, and it was very, very good.

4. The moment when the babe learned to walk up to me and climb into my lap on her own. There have been many similar moments since and I aim to cherish each one, because I’m sure that a day will come when she has no interest in having me hold her.

3. The moment when my husband took our daughter from my arms, stared into her face with a grin, and began walking her around the room as he stared into her eyes. This was also the moment when I truly realized, though I had never doubted it to begin with, that he was going to be an incredible father.

2. The moment when I realized that I had actually, really and truly birthed my baby and she was being placed on my chest all wriggling, squirming, and beautiful. This can also be thought of as the moment when a very large piece of my heart burst out of my chest and landed in the arms of the most incredible, tiny person.

1. The moment when I was rocking Annabelle to sleep, and for the first time, she reached around my neck as if to hug me, placed one tiny hand on my back, and began to pat.

Top 10 Ways to Avoid a Time-Out — If you are uncomfortable using time-outs in an attempt to control your child’s behavior, try one of these gentler alternatives. Dionna at Code Name: Mama shares her Top 10 Ways to Avoid a Time-Out.

My Top 10 Parenting Scriptures — Dulce de leche is learning to integrate faith and parenting. Whether it is breastfeeding, babywearing, comforting her children, or gentle discipline, she finds that the Bible has beautiful passages to encourage her on her journey.

Top 10 Nursing Positions / Situations — Momma Jorje uses her 5½ years of nursing experience to share her Top 10 Nursing Positions/Situations. She includes some adorable photos of her youngest daughter at the breast.

10 Family Systems and Routines That Work for Us — See what routines, organizational systems, and parenting approaches work for Kristin at Intrepid Murmurings to help avoid conflict and maintain sanity in a family with three young children.

Postpartum Gift Ideas — Alicia at I Found My Feet suggests a top 10 list of gifts for mother’s after giving birth.

My Top Ten Shows Worthy Of Screen Time — Tree at Mom Grooves shares her top ten list of shows that she believes are positive, educational, kind, joyful, and a nice way to share some downtime with your children.

Aw! Those are making me all melty, too. That last one especially! I love the one where you woke up as a family — that's so touching — and the one where your husband was walking her around. Ok, I'll say it again: Aw!

You probably made SO many mommies get all melty and teary-eyed today! I remember many of these moments (and freaked when little bugs would approach our baby who usually slept on a blanket on the floor at our feet during those early months). We often have playtime in the bed, just the three of us, and I tell you… All is right with the world when nothing else exists but us three! :-)

re: #8 – Kieran got pinched by a hermit crab the other day, and I totally panicked. I didn't flip, but I had NO clue what to do. Thankfully the crab owner had a more level head ;) And #1? So, so sweet :)

Aw! Those are making me all melty, too. That last one especially! I love the one where you woke up as a family — that's so touching — and the one where your husband was walking her around. Ok, I'll say it again: Aw!